The Barnsdale in Rutland: Is this the UK’s most dog-friendly hotel?
By Octavia Pollock
One writer and her canine sidekick check into a Rutland hotel that caters as beautifully to dogs as it does their owners.
There is dog friendly and there is dog friendly in the hotel world and The Barnsdale in Rutland definitely falls into the properly canine-catering category. When I arrived at lunchtime on a gloomy September day, I was immediately presented with a map for local dog walks, beautifully illustrated and well described. My miniature poodle Tiffin thoroughly approved of the stroll along the banks of Rutland Water, through woods with cheerful signs assuring owners that leads were not required, past the pretty, squat church of St Michael & All Angels, Whitwell, and across farmland where late poppies nodded. Back at the hotel, our room was complete with dog bed, bowls and treats (being a picky poodle, he rejected the latter; a friend’s labrador back home was far more appreciative) and, at dinner, a kindly waiter brought Tiffin his water bowl on a tray, no less.
The Barnsdale also hosts weddings, parties, car launches, fashion shows and Christmas fairs in the neighbouring barn, an amazing space with an asymmetrical ceiling from which globes of smoky glass lightbulbs by Pooky hang and huge doors that open out into the garden. There is a Whispering Angel bar in the courtyard, a boules court, croquet and pétanque lawns and countless activities nearby, from fishing and boating on Rutland Water to farm shops and Barnsdale Gardens half a mile up the Avenue, created by Gardeners’ World presenter Geoff Hamilton.
Six exceptional wines that will make this Father’s Day unforgettable
By Teresa Navarro Ortega
Father’s Day is approaching, and with it, the perfect opportunity to give something special that not only celebrates that father figure, but also inspires memorable moments. If you’re looking for a gift that combines elegance, flavor, and a unique experience, consider opting for wine. In this article, we present six exceptionally selected wines that will help you conquer the most discerning palates.
SIX WINES FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE GIFT
Below, we offer a list of six wines that stand out for their quality and character. Each was chosen not only for its flavor, but also for the history and passion behind each bottle. The diversity of styles and regions will allow you to select the one that best suits your father’s tastes.
Rioja red: Marqués de Cáceres Crianza
White from Rueda: José Pariente Verdejo
Cava: Gramona III Lustros
Argentine Malbec: Catena Zapata Argentine Malbec
Port Wine: Graham’s Six Grapes
Rosé from Provence: Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel
Rosé from Provence: Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel
Finally, rosé is a must in this repertoire. Whispering Angel has become an international favorite. With its pale pink color and refreshing red fruit aromas, it offers vibrant acidity and a clean finish. It’s ideal for sunny days and pairs with salads or fish. As the wine press notes: “A wine that can be enjoyed both on the beach and at home.”
Hotels add ‘beauty’ to spring promotions
By Hong Yoo
Promotional image for Spring Escape package (The Westin Josun Seoul)
As spring approaches, several hotels nationwide are unveiling exclusive collaborations with beauty brands, offering guests a range of seasonal promotions designed to enhance their stay. These include luxury beauty gifts and special cocktails inspired by the brands. The Westin Josun Seoul has launched its spring package, “Spring Escape,” which runs through June 30. Guests who book this package will receive a one-night stay in a deluxe room and a 500 milliliter bottle of “Luna” body lotion from the British luxury fragrance brand, Penhaligon’s. Additionally, guests staying in suite rooms will receive a bottle of Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel wine and have access to the Westin Club’s happy hour and breakfast offerings. Rates for the package start at 496,100 won ($340.80).
Aerial view of Lotte Hotel Jeju (Lotte Hotel Jeju)
In Jeju, Lotte Hotel Jeju is offering a “Beautiful Moment of Spring” package, available until April 30. This package includes a one-night stay, breakfast for two, a premium skincare set from the brand Thome valued at 430,000 won and a complimentary photo session. Guests will be photographed by a local photographer, with one pocket-sized photo printed and framed. Additionally, those who book multiple nights can enjoy a special food offering at the hotel’s poolside cafe, including dishes like tteokbokki and deep fried black pork dipped in sweet and sour sauce, along with two soft drinks. Marque d’Amour (L’Escape)
It was a joy to reenact a Château d’Esclans vertical tasting last week with its founder Sacha Lichine, some eight years after I hosted the same event in New York City with the late Château d’Esclans winemaker Patrick Léon. These stellar rosés have an uncanny ability to age. They do so, not in a linear fashion like, say, a predictable red wine, but in a swirling, convoluted and always surprising manner. After tasting the newly released 2023s, which I reviewed in my Finest Fifty 2024 Report published back in January for members of matthewjukes.com, we dived into some older vintages of Les Clans and Garrus.
I have no images of this event as there are strict rules at Annabel’s private club regarding photography, so I have included a photo taken back in November when I first tasted these wines, as well as a bottle shot of the new 2024 Whispering Angel, whose review also features below.
As a reminder, here is an edited extract from Finest Fifty 2024
2023 Château d’Esclans Les Clans Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France
2023 will go down in Provence rosé history as the vintage when all three ‘Château d’Esclans’ wines hit the high notes simultaneously. The trio of 2023s have only just been released, and I was privileged to taste them with Sacha Lichine in London in November. This tasting further underlined that these are genuinely authentic fine wines that stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s top sparklers, whites and reds. Garrus has long been the grandest rosé on the planet, and I find so much to admire in this wine; it is incredible.
2023 Château d’Esclans Garrus Rosé is firm, bright, crystalline and refined with blonde oak and blanched almond highlights. This level of composure is usually only found in graceful Grand Cru Burgundies. Precision cut, reserved and reluctant to show its full hand this early in its development, this is another cosmic performance from this trailblazing wine. My headliner, Les Clans, shows another level of elegance, coupled with lip-smacking precocity, so while Garrus is one for the cellar, Les Clans is ready to romance from the moment it is released. Near perfect in weight, timbre and balance, this is a glorious wine, and it can perform every duty from complex canapés to main course feasts!
Where Garrus slows the conversation down so one can fully appreciate the constellation of flavours present, Les Clans skips along merrily, making it the definitive ‘rich person’s fast wine’. If you were left to your own devices, I could see Les Clans disappearing at an impressive rate of knots without ever tiring the taste buds or becoming repetitive. Finally, it is extremely exciting to announce that the estate wine, 2023 Château d’Esclans Rosé, has finally – and it has been a bit of a wait – joined its fellows at the top of the tree. For as long as I can remember, this cuvée has been meandering around, searching for a purpose.
Whispering Angel and Rock Angel have bookended this portfolio at the commercial end, and Les Clans and Garrus soared around the stratosphere, leaving ‘Château’ somewhat lost. In 2023, there is so much gravitas and purity that it has gone from also-ran to catwalk-ready in one fell swoop. I would go so far as to say the silhouette of this wine is more Puligny-like than many Pulignys! This is easily the most exciting estate Esclans to date, and it is fabulously open and vibrant with skipping-stone flavours and lashings of joie de vivre. What a trio! 19/20 (Drink now – 2028)
Adding to this tasting note –
2023 Château d’Esclans Rosé looked even more composed and refined than in November, and it was a consummate aperitif wine with stunningly decadent canapés. We tasted through Les Clans 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2017. The 2023 is clearly a thoroughbred; despite its youth, it looked every inch a superstar, as noted above. The 2022 was spicier and more crunch and active on the palate, and I loved the brittle acidity on the finish. 2021 was more expressive, fleshy, and main course shaped. It was just starting to hit its peak!
The 2020 was a wickedly delicious wine with stunning balance and completeness. I have always adored this vintage.
The 2017 was tiring a touch, but it shows that at eight years old, there is still energy in the tank. Remarkable.
We then repeated the same vintages with Garrus and as you might expect, the flavours were bolder, fuller and more dashing!
The 2023 is a masterful creation, but it is tense and coiled! The 2022 looked ravishing. I have always had a soft spot for this awesome wine, and it is just starting to show signs of softening. That said, it is possible to bathe in its glory already, as long as you have the right food in front of you (we enjoyed roast chicken).
2021 showed more crystalline traits with lashing so juicy fruit, straight-jacketed by thrilling acidity. Drinking, but with so much class and tension, this will run and run.
The 2020 was typically silky and beautiful – an haute couture vintage – and it is drinking well now and will continue for a good few years to come.
The 2017 is an event horizon wine! It was a challenging vintage and a triumphant result. Drinking beautifully, with incredible grace and kaleidoscopic complexity, it underlines that this collection of rosé wines is the most age-worthy and delicious in the wine world, and they deserve a place in the very finest cellars on earth.
2024 Whispering Angel Rosé, Caves d’Esclans, Sacha Lichine, Côtes de Provence, France
As I talked with Sacha, he let me into a secret. He thinks 2024 is one of the finest vintages he has ever seen in Provence. And, if this wine is anything to go by, he is right. This is a seamless, languid, soothing Whispering Angel with terrific balance and immediate appeal. Sometimes, this wine takes a couple of months to get into its stride. Sometimes, it misses summer altogether, falling into equilibrium in time for turkey at Christmas, although I suspect no one notices or even cares! In 2024, it is impeccable from the off. This is justifiably the most famous / best value rosé in the world and if anyone still thinks otherwise, one sip of this beguilingly lip-smacking wine will change their minds – Chapeau!
There are many suppliers of all these wines in the UK, including countless retailers for Whispering Angel, so you are likely to find it everywhere given that 10m bottles are produced, but the Estate wines can be found from Vinatis, Selfridges, Fine Wine Direct, Hedonism Wines, Vinvm, ND John, Millesima, Jeroboams and Harrods.
Sacha Lichine on premium rosé: ‘We’re not trying to change the world. We’re trying to get the word out’
By Sophie Arundel
Instagram @thewhisperingangel
If you think rosé, you might think of magnums being poured from height into peoples mouths at La Folie Douce, or endless glasses poured along the Riviera by those wanting a quick route to tipsiness under the Mediterranean sun. It’s not exactly a category steeped in the reverence afforded to Burgundy or Bordeaux. But one producer that has undeniably reshaped perceptions is Château d’Esclans—the house behind Whispering Angel. Whether you love it or not, there’s no denying its cultural impact.
On Friday 7 March, an intimate lunch at Annabel’s in Mayfair (because where else?) set the stage for a deeper dive into Château d’Esclans’ premium rosé offering. The table, filled with pastel-hued flowers mirroring the soft pink hues of the Garrus 2024 and Les Clans 2024 vintages, framed a discussion around where rosé fits in the fine wine world.
A different approach to premium Rosé
At the lunch, Lichine was clear about his intentions: “We’re not trying to change the world. We’re trying to get the word out.” Rather than waging a campaign to convince sceptics that rosé is a “serious” wine, the goal is simply to offer premium rosé in a premium setting. Fine dining restaurants, Michelin-starred establishments, and collectors’ cellars—places where traditionally only white and red have had a seat at the table.
The UK has driven fine wine trends for centuries. As Lichine noted, “If it wasn’t for the UK, there wouldn’t be a fine wine market.” Whether UK drinkers will embrace premium rosé in the same way remains to be seen. But with bottles of Garrus and Les Clans appearing in more high-end settings, it’s clear that Château d’Esclans has already succeeded in making it an option.
The wines: Beyond the beach club
Esteemed wine author Jane Anson has described Les Clans as a “serious wine that still has the fresh lightness of touch of a perfect summer rosé,” and the tasting notes back that up.
Garrus is often likened to an elegant white Burgundy. Made primarily from nearly century-old, low-yielding Grenache vines, it is the most complex expression of Côtes de Provence rosé. Comprising 90% free-run juice, the wine is vinified in 600-litre temperature-controlled oak barrels, undergoing bâtonnage twice weekly over an eleven-month period to build structure and depth.
Les Clans, the sibling to Garrus, offers a more structured take on rosé, balancing its fresh, summer-ready minerality with a rich, satiny texture. Made from old-vine Grenache and Rolle, it undergoes ten months of ageing in new and second-year demi-muids, developing woody, vanilla, and fresh fruit notes alongside a saline finish.
With over 10 million bottles of Whispering Angel sold annually, the brand has undoubtedly dominated the rosé space. But while the name has become ubiquitous, Château d’Esclans’ top cuvées are designed to show that rosé doesn’t have to be an afterthought on a fine dining wine list.
Innovation in winemaking
Château d’Esclans has pioneered technological advancements in rosé production. As Sacha Lichine himself put it, “You wouldn’t be able to make rosé like this if it wasn’t for the technology.”
Rosé is deceptively difficult to produce well, particularly when the goal is to achieve a Burgundian level of complexity while working with diverse terroirs. The process begins with carefully picked and sorted grapes, which are cooled and pressed before entering a sophisticated temperature-control system. Here, a double-layered stainless steel heat exchange system rapidly drops the temperature from around 25°C to 7-8°C, preserving freshness and aromatic intensity.
The next step, a closed-loop press system using inert nitrogen gas, prevents oxidation while enhancing the wine’s clarity and purity. The resulting free-run juice undergoes degumming, allowing unwanted solids to settle before fermentation. The end result? A clean, precise rosé with a pale, elegant hue and a depth that challenges preconceptions.
The world has been seemingly irreversibly shaken over the course of the last six weeks, it’s hard to keep up with manic stream of news coming from certain corners of the world.
So in contrast to those brewing storm clouds, we’re going to give you a rainbow – one of a single hue, mind you – but in these dark times, can there be a more joyous color than pink? The color of springtime, cherry blossom and, of course, rosé wine.
So when it comes to this year’s most wanted rosé, we have all the shades of pink from the palest sun-bleached seashell to deep peony.
The former generally the domain of the dry, steely, delicate-hint-of-peach wines of Provençe, the latter the red berry fruit-bombs of the southern Mediterranean.
The Provençal-style expressions are the ones that have been elevated – through the likes of Château d’Esclans’ Whispering Angel and former power couple Brangelina’s Château Miraval – into lofty tokens of refinement.
Conversely, the wild strawberry and Florida sunset shades of Spain, Portugal and Italy are – by simple kneejerk comparison – somewhat downgraded as the cheap, party option, the poor relation to the epicurean delights of Southern France.
However, does that stack up when it comes to what people really want?
When it comes to this year’s most wanted rosé, leading the charge is, of course, that pink-winged behemoth of a seraph, Whispering Angel. Beloved by the stars from the Beckhams, to Lady Gaga to Jeremy Clarkson – who managed to insult the city of Liverpool over the stuff – Whispering Angel has long held pole position. Pleasingly, despite all of its fancy associations, it’s also very affordable at $24.
… number nine gives it a good go, with the return of Château d’Esclans and their Garrus rosé. Roaring in with a critic score of 92 points and a price-point of $138.
All-You-Can-Eat Sushi In London
By Kiera Chapman
A self-service sushi bar? Count us in.
Sushi lovers, roll up. Whether you’re a maki fan, a sashimi enthusiast, or just here for the endless nigiri, the capital has a great selection of Japanese restaurants where you can eat to your heart’s content – at an affordable price too. So, if you’re ready to soy-prise your taste buds and put your appetite to the ultimate test, let’s dive into the best all-you-can-eat sushi London has to offer.
CLAP London
Location: 12-14 Basil Street, SW3 1AJ
Best for: a lively brunch with a resident DJ
This bottomless brunch deserves a round of applause – quite literally. At CLAP London, the stylish restaurant blends unlimited Japanese indulgence with high-energy beats and free-flowing drinks in the heart of Knightsbridge. From midday to 3pm every weekend, guests can dive into a lavish spread for £65 per person, starting with an unlimited self-service sushi bar stocked with sashimi, nigiri, signature salads, and expertly crafted sushi.
Diners can then move on to an exquisite main course, before finishing with a refined selection of sharing-style desserts. And for those who like their brunch with a little extra buzz, free-flowing drinks are available from £30 per person, including prosecco, Whispering Angel rosé, and wines, or the premium package (£55 per person), which upgrades the offering to Veuve Clicquot, sake, Aperol spritzes, Nippon sangrias, and bloody marys.
‘The classiest gift I’ve heard of’… (Excerpted Reference)
By Clare Finney
I’m convinced that the same bottle of Whispering Angel and box of Lindor chocolates have been doing the rounds among my friends for two or three years now. It’s not that we don’t like them (what’s not to like?); it’s that they are such easy gifts. Every host saves them for when they’re next a guest, in an unspoken game of Pass the Provençal Rose.
Cocktails à la Palm Royale, Season 2
1970’s Palm Beach-inspired event to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County
By Kelly Henry
Get out your favorite 1970’s Palm Beach outfit. It’s time, once again, for “Cocktails à la Palm Royale, Season 2” The special event benefits Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. It’s set inside La Follia, one of Palm Beach’s most breathtaking private estates. Guests can enjoy signature cocktails and live entertainment.
Actress Mindy Cohn is the guest of honor at a special “Palm Royale” benefit. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County / courtesy photo
“We are so grateful for this amazing opportunity and are extremely appreciative to our sponsors and Mindy for making this possible,” says Julia Murphy, Chief Advancement Officer at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County.
The guest of honor is Mindy Cohn, the actress who portrayed Nathalie on the classic series “Facts of Life,” and recently starred as Ann Holiday, in the popular AppleTV series “Palm Royale.”
The show, about Palm Beach high society, stars Cohn, Kristen Wiig, Carol Burnett, Laura Dern, and Ricky Martin. It was renewed for a second season shortly after the first season ended.
The Grand Sponsor is Kenneth C. Griffin. Additional sponsors include The Colony Hotel, Whispering Angel and Kohler. Sponsorship opportunities are still available to make a meaningful commitment to supporting Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building homes for families in need.
Presidents and celebrities have stayed at this stunning hotel, and with a roof top spa, luxe suites, golf courses, fine dining, 300 acres of parkland and a family-friendly welcome, you’ll want to join them!
By Rudding Park, Harrogate
THE LOWDOWN
The 19th-century Grade I-listed Rudding Park nestles in open countryside just three miles south of Harrogate. The Mackaness family has owned it since 1972 and has developed the original country house, within 300 acres of landscaped grounds, into one of the leading hotels and leisure resorts in the UK.
Prestigious guests include former US and Soviet presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, plus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Fawlty Towers and Monty Python actor John Cleese.
Modern extensions now house 90 rooms and suites, an impressive destination spa with rooftop terrace, three restaurants, a kitchen garden, private cinema, conference and events facilities. Members and visitors can also play golf on two courses, improve their game at the Trackman Driving Range and socialise at the club house. Originally part of the forest of Knaresborough, some of the ancient oaks still grow in the parkland.
THE VIBE
After a stressful commute through Harrogate rush-hour traffic (not helped by temporary roadworks), a sense of calm descended as soon as we drove through Rudding Park’s gates. My husband and I tried to hide our less than pristine vehicle in the furthest corner of the car park, but hotel porter Chris spotted us from his golf buggy and offered us a lift with our luggage to the front door. It’s all part of the service the hotel provides for guests arriving at around 3pm check-in time.
Inside, the warm welcome continued in the airy entrance hall with a real fire flickering in the grate, eye-catching floral displays, comfy snug lounge, bold artwork and cheery reception staff. Reece chatted amiably and showed us to our room, past a rogues’ gallery of former VIP guests and through the striking library with its Insta-friendly hanging egg chair, vibrant statement sofas and armchairs, bookshelves and striped rugs.
SCOFF AND QUAFF
The wine list was impressive, with large glasses of Whispering Angel rosé for £22…
